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If you're a Democrat in Virginia you can never go anywhere

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  • #1

    If you're a Democrat in Virginia you can never go anywhere

    BREAKING: While Dems Distracted by Inauguration, Virginia Senate GOP Stages a Coup
    http://bluevirginia.us/diary/8554/breaking-while-dems-distracted-by-inauguration-virginia-senate-gop-stages-a-coup
    You don't get more slimy, sneaky, underhanded, etc. than this (great work by Ben Tribbett alerting us to what was going on in the following series of Facebook updates): "Wow- Republicans in the Virginia Senate are now trying to redraw the maps and draw at least one Democratic Senator out of the Senate. Happening right now on the floor." "COUP GOING ON IN VIRGINIA SENATE: Republicans have just brought all new Senate districts to the floor with Henry Marsh gone in DC, now 30 minutes of debate before they send them to the House of Delegates." "COUP SUCCESSFUL- NEW DISTRICTS HEADED TO VIRGINIA HOUSE. AT LEAST ONE DEMOCRATIC SENATOR TO BE OUSTED." "The Republican redistricting bill creates a 6th majority-minority seat." After Ben's first Facebook notice, I went to the live feed of the Virginia State Senate and watched as Sen. Saslaw, Sen. McEachin ("This is sneaky, this is underhanded, and it's beneath the dignity of the Senate"), Sen. Marsden and Sen. Barker went ape**** on the Republicans for what they said was a totally underhanded, unconstitutional move that will utterly poison relations in the Virginia State Senate. The fact that Republicans pulled this underhanded maneuver while most people were focused on the inauguration and Democratic State Senator Marsh was out of town (for the inauguration) really says it all. Wow. P.S. Bizarrely, right after the coup, Sen. Deeds inexplicably started rambling on about a Confederate general (Stonewell Jackson) and how he loved "peaches," "lemons," and "women." WTF? P.P.S. I'm hoping to get video of this as soon as possible, as you've got to see it to believe it. Also, this should be a big, national story. Wow. UPDATE: Sen. Ebbin tweets, "VA Senate GOP trying to redistrict w/ substitute bill with no notice in violation of our state Constitution" and "VA Senate GOP votes to redistrict in violation of state Constitution." UPDATE #2: One of the sharpest Virginia political analysts I know, KentonNgo, tweets: "If VA Republicans were smart enough not to touch the already cleared VRA districts, the plan will likely stand. Dems are toast." Ugh. UPDATE #3: Here are the votes as Senate Republicans rammed this one through on 20-19, party-line votes with longtime civil rights champion, Democratic State Senator Henry Marsh, at the inauguration in Washington, DC. UPDATE #4 (5:10 pm): It will be interesting to see how long it takes the corporate media to get on top of this story. So far, I see the Richmond Times Dispatch has a story (posted at 4:37 pm), but that's about it. We were up with this story at 4:19 pm, after Ben Tribbett posted about it on Facebook and alerted us to it a few minutes before that. Actually, I just saw that Bob Lewis and Larry O'Dell of the AP are out with a story as of 4:57 pm. ThinkProgress is also on it as of 5:10 pm. UPDATE #5: Not Larry Sabato has "some initial info on the new districts." ("Creigh Deeds, the current 25th Senator is put into the 24th Senate district with Emmett Hanger, a district that now includes all of Augusta,and Bath counties along with Charlottesville and other pieces.") UPDATE #6: NLS has the new districts. UPDATE #7: Chelyen Davis tweets, "@lgbillbolling spokeswoman says Bolling wouldn't have voted for redistricting, "has grave concerns... it's not something he supported." Verrry interesting, he can't be pleased about this (makes it more likely he'll run as an indy?). UPDATE #8: Jeff Schapiro tweets, "Even @BobMcDonnell is steamed over surprise re-redist maneuver by fellow R's in #Va Senate; worried it threatens his agenda." Nice.


    So basically State Senate Republicans passed a redistricting motion while one Democratic State Senator was at the inauguration. This will cement a Republican majority in the State Senate.

    Par for the course for Republicans to not win through popularity but by altering the rules to benefit them.
    "I hope I get to punch you in the face one day" - MRT144, Imran Siddiqui
    'I'm fairly certain that a ban on me punching you in the face is not a "right" worth respecting." - loinburger
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  • #2
    Whatever victories they get will be short-lived. Virginia is probably still a battleground state, but it's starting to look pretty blue. They might get away with such shenanigans in Texas (which is shifting blue), but not Virginia.

    This explains better than I can.

    GOP is going the way of the Whigs.

    RIP
    To us, it is the BEAST.

    Comment

    • #3
      This is bull****, MRT. The Senate was jerrymandered ridiculously in favor of democrats to the point where they only lost a couple seats despite a massive popular vote loss in the last state election. This rectifies that.
      If there is no sound in space, how come you can hear the lasers?
      ){ :|:& };:

      Comment

      • #4
        Originally posted by Hauldren Collider View Post
        This is bull****, MRT. The Senate was jerrymandered ridiculously in favor of democrats
        Factually wrong. But proceed.

        they only lost a couple seats despite a massive popular vote loss in the last state election. This rectifies that.
        If you are so concerned with fairness, perhaps Virginia should switch to a parliamentary system based upon statewide popular vote. Though, considering Romney lost that by 4%, I doubt electoral fairness is what you want.
        To us, it is the BEAST.

        Comment

        • #5
          I would be fine with a proportional state legislature, especially considering Republicans won the preceding three elections in VA in a landslide.

          If I could wave my magic wand, the House of Delegates would be a proportional legislature and the Senate would stay as a district legislature.
          If there is no sound in space, how come you can hear the lasers?
          ){ :|:& };:

          Comment

          • #6
            Originally posted by Sava View Post
            Factually wrong. But proceed.
            Factually correct. Why do you think they gained a ton of seats in the House of Delegates but not the Senate?
            If there is no sound in space, how come you can hear the lasers?
            ){ :|:& };:

            Comment

            • #7
              Originally posted by Hauldren Collider View Post
              I would be fine with a proportional state legislature, especially considering Republicans won the preceding three elections in VA in a landslide.
              It's probably best to pay attention to the popular vote with the largest sample... 2012, 2008

              Factually correct.
              I don't have to prove a negative. I struggled to find any data supporting your statement, and you provided none. Evidence please.
              To us, it is the BEAST.

              Comment

              • #8
                If you're a Democrat in Virginia you can never go anywhere
                Only while the General Assembly is in session.
                If you are so concerned with fairness,
                Jetison Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and consider Computerized Redistricting.
                I make no bones about my moral support for [terrorist] organizations. - chegitz guevara
                For those who aspire to live in a high cost, high tax, big government place, our nation and the world offers plenty of options. Vermont, Canada and Venezuela all offer you the opportunity to live in the socialist, big government paradise you long for. –Senator Rubio

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by DinoDoc View Post
                  Jetison Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and consider Computerized Redistricting.
                  Run it up the flagpole and see if it flies.
                  I'll support it.
                  To us, it is the BEAST.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Sava View Post
                    It's probably best to pay attention to the popular vote with the largest sample... 2012, 2008
                    Virginia has elections every year. I was referring to 2009, 2010, and 2011.
                    If there is no sound in space, how come you can hear the lasers?
                    ){ :|:& };:

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Sava View Post
                      I don't have to prove a negative. I struggled to find any data supporting your statement, and you provided none. Evidence please.
                      Just look at a goddamn map of the senate districts.

                      By the way, in all likelihood, the Speaker of the House of Delegates or the Governor is going to kill this bill.
                      If there is no sound in space, how come you can hear the lasers?
                      ){ :|:& };:

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        The Virginia House is 2/3rds Republican...I wouldn't call that a "battleground." Seems to me the Republicans are completely dominant at the state level.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Hauldren Collider View Post
                          Virginia has elections every year. I was referring to 2009, 2010, and 2011.
                          Yes, yes... I thought we were trying to stop electoral games from interfering with representative government. Previous results are irrelevant to the discussion. If you want, you can claim victory in any such strawman argument.

                          So do you want the state to use proportional representation based on popular vote or not?
                          To us, it is the BEAST.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Originally posted by regexcellent View Post
                            The Virginia House is 2/3rds Republican...I wouldn't call that a "battleground." Seems to me the Republicans are completely dominant at the state level.
                            Yes. Considering the disconnect between the popular vote in the last two presidential elections, the issue of electoral fairness presents itself.
                            To us, it is the BEAST.

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              They aren't keeping anyone from voting in off years. Maybe democrats only make it to the polls when they have millions of dollars of campaign workers egging them on.
                              If there is no sound in space, how come you can hear the lasers?
                              ){ :|:& };:

                              Comment

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